rednecks

As a long-suffering child of an abusive father…All I knew of ‘Indians’ were slurs, slanted sentences and disgruntled replies.

“Drunks! Rednecks! Lazy!” So on and so forth.

In due time, it was slowly revealed…My father had been one half Cherokee. Therefore, leaving me…one quarter.

Certainly it was evident that dear old dad had heard only what society needed him to hear. My grandmother, Lulu Rebel, I never met. The only references to her were terms my father had seen and heard…while pretending to be a white man.

Indian giver

Squaw

How Indian is that bitch?

Therefore, the beat went on and on and on.

I am proud of my heritage. No matter the dysfunction. I am Cherokee, through and through. It did not matter to me the color of my skin. It mattered to me the struggle that Native Americans must persevere. The history of a nation that endures a United States which continues to distort the land and remove pride…from a prideful people.

Pocahontas, Elizabeth Warren and Donald Trump?

What a bizarre and somewhat…drug induced combination!

I would like to set the record straight. Or, at least, clarify that indigenous persons built this land. And, if we focused as much time on preserving their way of life…as we do, berating each other…this would be a society to be proud of!

Pocahontas is in the middle, breasts exposed and legs spread, while another is kneeling and licking her crotch; a third leans on her, stroking her breast.

This is not the first reimaging illustration that Minaj has posted on Instagram. She’s also included artistic renditions of cartoon characters, including BoJack Horseman and Lola Bunny, but Pocahontas was a real person. Lest we forget: Pocahontas was a teenage rape victim who was forced to marry older Englishman John Rolfe and died at the age of 20 in England. Thanks to Disney, she is also one of the few pop culture representations of Native Americans that most Americans are familiar with. With her post (and the “Hoecahontas” caption that was later deleted), Minaj directly contributed to the sexualization of Native women that continues to put so many of them in danger.

From Minaj’s post to “Pocahottie” Halloween costumes to historical images of Indian maidens eager to be saved by white men, the sexualization of Native women is prominent in American pop culture. Response to Minaj was swift: Hundreds of commenters posted about violence against Native women and noted that Pocahontas was not a fictional “princess” but a real-life teenager who was raped and victimized. Others pointed out that they didn’t have opposition to Minaj’s original Paper Magazine cover, as it was her choice, but Pocahontas did not have that agency.

Prior to colonization, rape, as well as sexual and domestic violence, were extremely rare in tribal communities. In her groundbreaking book The Beginning and End of Rape, Muscogee-Creek law professor Sarah Deer notes that in many tribal communities, such as the Lakota, colonizers were baffled that women had control over their bodies and that punishments for rape were traditionally harsh, often resulting in banishment or death. Sexual violence became a tool of colonization, and today, about 34 percent of Native women are raped in their lifetime, and 39 percent are victims of domestic violence. For Native girls, the statistics are even more staggering: 92 percent of Native girls who have had sex were forced against their will.

In addition to negative stereotypes influencing how Native women are treated, outdated federal policy dictates how tribes can address sexual violence. The Major Crimes Act of 1885 severely limited tribal jurisdiction and gave the federal government control over major felony crimes, including rape. A 1978 Supreme Court decision further restricted tribal jurisdiction, arguing that tribes would be “too biased” to arrest and try non-Native criminals. Thus, tribes are not able to prosecute non-Natives—even though non-Native men commit nearly 90 percent of violent crimes against Native women on tribal lands.

This changed slightly with the 2013 reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). Post-VAWA, tribes have the authority to prosecute certain crimes related to violence against women—including domestic violence, dating violence, or violation of a protection order. But it has its limitations: In order for a non-Native perpetrator to be tried, the victim must prove an intimate relationship with the abuser, and they cannot be charged for other crimes taking place (such as child abuse). This fractured jurisdiction leaves many Native families without protection.

Across the United States and Canada, Indigenous women, trans people, and two-spirit people are mobilizing to stop gendered and sexual violence. Pro-bono law clinics are training Native women and community leaders in investigating, trying, and prosecuting domestic- and sexual-violence cases. National campaigns like the Native Love is… challenge the normalization of sexual violence and abuse. In Canada, It Starts With Us is a crowdsourced database of Canadian Indigenous women and trans and two-spirit folks who are missing or were murdered—people whom the government often don’t acknowledge. Ending violence against Native women is one of the most prominent issues in our communities, but it’s overshadowed by the sexualized caricatures of us in contemporary pop culture.

by ##ABAKI BECK

Within this turmoil…a question?

Are we being forced away from our heritage? Overly concerned with our looks? The color of our skin? It seems that current day we have spent less time embracing the miles traveled…in our own personal milestones! We have turned back towards verbal, physical and sexual violence. How is this making…America Great, Again?

I felt the need to voice my concern about my future…the the future of others!

Mexican-American citizens may worry that their undocumented relatives — even their parents — will be deported. Latinos who were brought to this country as children and to whom Mexico or Guatemala is as foreign as they would be to any of us are worried, as well.

African-Americans, Muslims and other “others” may wonder if they will suffer from the boost that Trump’s victory provides for alt-right and white supremacist groups. It’s worrisome when exclusionary hate groups such as the Ku Klux Klan find something to celebrate in a President Trump.

Who else should worry?

Citizens with pre-existing medical conditions may be concerned about what will happen to them if Obamacare is repealed. And 20 million Americans who have healthcare insurance for the first time may wonder how they will fare under Trumpcare.

LGBT citizens are worried, with good reason, that their recently affirmed right to wed will be reversed by a Trump-appointed Supreme Court. Religious freedom laws are likely to find favor in such a Court, which means that gays, lesbians and transgenders may not be able to participate in our society in the same way as other citizens.

Under a Trump presidency, some women may worry that the government will take over their right to control their own bodies when it comes to pregnancy. Prominent voices on the right call for a ban on all abortions, even in cases of rape and incest.

With Russia right next door, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are probably worried, since Trump has suggested diminished support for our NATO allies. Iranian moderates — they are significant in Iranian politics — face a setback with the promised abrogation of the nuclear deal. And Trump’s casual attitude about Saudi Arabia’s acquisition of nuclear weapons is sure to revive the push for such weapons in Iran. That should worry all of us.

*John M. Crisp, an op-ed columnist for Tribune News Service

I had the good fortune to not go to the Women’s March on Washington…2017. I had done many Marches, in the past. This time, I needed to be closer to home!

Though, the ‘Sister March in Concord, New Hampshire’ was a much smaller version of Washington’s; it had been a mere mimicry of the country’s new and improved…bigotry of equality…for all.

The crowd had been well-mannered and very open to good conversation.

New Hampshire has the ‘whitest’ population in America. I believe the stat is somewhere around 91%. Which is what it is! Slowly New Hampshirites are becoming more vast in the melting pot arena. However, in my lifetime, we will remain mostly cracker and less, cracker and pepper and variations there of.

What struck me had been the one preacher of African-American decent. And, the obvious, Muslim woman standing next to him…holding essentially, Trump’s America…signs.

One had been about Pro-Life and what ‘Christ’ would have wanted. The other about…another minority for ‘Make America Great Again’ antics.

My partner and I are openly gay in New Hampshire. Therefore, we have an acute understanding of feeling like we need to…go along, in order to…get along, in a crowd.

The minorities, at the state capital, that had felt differently about liberal America…coming to end, were very few. But they were on the scene.

The American dream wished for by some of these sects, is no longer in option. As stated in the above mentioned article.

However, I felt it might be necessary to point out other groups that may see the light dimming for their hopes and dreams.

– Animal Right’s Activist

-Persons wishing to see marijuana legalized

-Native Americans

-Persons with above average intelligence

-Groups in promotion of climate control and/or in opposition of Global Warming

-Atheist

-Agnostics

-Small Business Entrepreneurs

-Anyone who wishes to write and/or speak in full sentences

-Anyone wanting to use words with more than four letters

Course, the list could go on for quite sometime.

So to break things up I would like to offer one of Trump’s thoughts about ‘Making America Great…Again!’

“Black guys counting my money! I hate it. The only kind of people I want counting my money are short guys wearing yarmulkes… Those are the only kind of people I want counting my money. Nobody else…Besides that, I tell you something else. I think that’s guy’s lazy. And it’s probably not his fault because laziness is a trait in blacks,”

The world has become a Walmart bathroom…where we are asked if the bathroom needs cleaning…just to hush us up!And, nobody does anything about it!

There are so many reasons why I love my dog. So many explanations to…I’d rather spend a bad day with Fido than a good day among the humans! Or, the more I hang with people…the more I love my dog. So on and so forth.

Unfortunately, I cannot not participate in the human race…with all it’s pomp and circumstances. And, just as unfortunately…I cannot avoid situations like the following:

Two women of average height. Baby Mamma bodies. Polyester, I don’t give a shit how I look’, womanizer wear for the office. Nondescript late model Cavalier and later model Impala. Both women appear to be in their thirties. Both women could easily exist as the other…if a situation called for just above white trash…double.

“…he is on a whole different level than her. She is so low class. And, did you see that outfit she had on?”

“I know. Damien could do so much better than her. He could be on the Bachelor if he wanted. All he’s looking for is an easy lay…just put a bag over her head!”

This kind of situation is not particular to the world of Randomwordbyruth…this shit happens everywhere. The kind of shit that includes taking hostage of persons who live on the fence. Persons who are willing to suck it up and become different. Be an aspiring poster child for change. Start their own blog blasting conformity. And/or persons who were one key shy of signing up to something really great. Such as…join a politcal group, join a non-political group wanting change, volunteer at a rape crisis center or something as simple as…decide to change the way their household is run. Becoming more environmentally aware. So on and so on.

These are the people most effected by the two women I recently discovered…mentioned above. For as sure as the day is long with ignorance…if a newby do-gooder catches a whiff of someone like I just mentioned…They would throw their hands up in the air and ask, ‘what is the point in trying!’

Further fuel, no pun intended, for the fire, these women were at the local convenience store blocking the pumps, gossiping, while both cars were in idle destroying our ozone layer.

My first thought had been…go over there and beat the shit out of them verbally. It had been obvious to me that there lack of proper English gave me a leg up. And, therefore, a quick tongue lashing such as…

‘Are you handicapped?’

Both would smile and giggle and say…’No.’

‘Is there an emergency?’

Again, the smile, the giggle and an adamant…’No.’

‘Than what the fuck gives you the right to exploit my day? Why must I be held captive to your stupidity and your disgrace of the female symbol. I can tell you right now…being an admirer of women and their physique…you both would not only need a bag over your faces. You would need a sock in your mouth and I would need to have gone out drinking…after fourteen years of sobriety. Matter of fact, that still wouldn’t be enough to make you attractive. If either one of you were my girlfriend…I’d go straight!’

I did not do the tongue lashing. Nor did I go over and just kick the shit out of them. I continued on…to my walk…my daily meditation among the dogs and came home to write down why I like dogs more than people:

They smell better. I don’t have to back away from them like I do when standing at a check out lane…And, a local Dumpy Diva has gone over the top with CK1.

Dogs typically cannot be blamed for bad behavior. Let’s face it…it is usually the owner’s fault. Humans have no excuse. If you were brought up poorly…have the sense to change.

Dogs are always politically correct. There is never any question about bias. If they don’t like you. They don’t like you for you. Not what you look like and/or your political affiliation.

Woman’s best friend has always given room for fauxpaus! If I make a mistake. If my hair wakes up on the wrong side of the bed. If I choose to be pissy for the first half of the day. My dogs, as well as, any others…plain old ‘don’t give a shit!’ It is all about them. So if there is food on the table and a leash in your hand. You are as good as a fresh homemade biscuit out of the oven.

Supposedly the above mentioned women took no self inventory for the day. Did not care for the world at large. It’s resources, it’s nature and it’s attempt to remain healthy. Hence the running cars and blocking of pumps that could have been used by other customers. A four legged animal named Matilda, Bogie, Lassie, Princess, etc., gives one thing back to the earth…And, that is, shit! Feces! An animal is strictly earth friendly and is often needed to remind us…the earth does not belong to us. We belong to the earth!

The grass is not greener on the other side…the grass is greener where it is watered!

Dear Dumpy Divas-

It is one thing to not be educated via schooling. It is another to not be courteous to your fellow woman or man. Courtesy is not something you learn in school. Courtesy is just something…your should learn.

RandomwordbyRuth

“We’re all a little weird. And life is a little weird. And when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them and fall into mutually satisfying weirdness — and call it love — true love.”― Robert Fulghum, True Love“It’s the spirit here that counts. The time may be long, the vehicle may be strange or unexpected. But if the dream is held close to the heart, and imagination is applied to what there is close at hand, everything is still possible.”― Robert Fulghum, All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten

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the Fire Next Time – James Baldwin

Love takes off the masks that we fear we cannot live without and know we cannot live within. I use the word “love” here not merely in the personal sense but as a state of being, or a state of grace – not in the infantile American sense of being made happy but in the tough and universal sense of quest and daring and growth.